Spring shopping at Northgate Mall in Seattle

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So, Easter in Seattle was cold and rainy, like usual. But, we didn’t mind because our rain plan was actually our only plan: The Northgate Mall EGGcellent Easter Party for Kidgits members. But, that won’t be a surprise to anyone that knows us, since Northgate Mall is pretty much our holiday go-to plan if we aren’t seeing family.

This past weekend the mall was all done up for Easter for their EGGcellent Easter Party, and as usual, it did not disappoint. There was face painting, treats to snack on, robotics to marvel over, crafts to construct, and even live bunnies to hold. Northgate Mall bunniesWe checked in at the Kidgits Club desk and showed our membership cards to get little goodie bags for the kiddos, and then we headed over to take our annual pictures with the Easter Bunny before we visited the booths. Here’s one of my favorite shots from our Bunny Photo Experience: Easter bunny

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Seattle Day Trip: Anacortes, WA

Anacortes WashingtonSometimes I get so involved in the day to day that I forget to really see the beauty that’s around me. And then sometimes the kids and I are on a walk and I take a minute to look around and I see the morning fog creating a mist through the trees surrounding us. It’s times like this that I absolutely love living in the Puget Sound with forests everywhere and surrounded by water and island towns. WP_20160120_09_25_54_Rich_LI

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Take your kids to see Disney’s ZOOTOPIA today

Sponsored postIt’s the day that every kid and kid-at-heart has been waiting for! ZOOTOPIA is now playing in theaters everywhere!

Zootopia5669c94c46210As soon as I saw the toys hit stores for the new ZOOTOPIA movie, I was sure I was going to love it. Not knowing anything about the characters or the movie plot specifically, I was already drawn in just by the diversity and flair of the main characters. One hilarious preview in, and I was counting down the days to March 4th for the theatrical release of ZOOTOPIA.

I'm not saying that I'm always good at predicting a blockbuster, but I did call that Frozen was going to be a sensation, so….

We got to see ZOOTOPIA at the Seattle pre-screening, and it was just as good, and in many ways better, than I had hoped. It had action, it had adventure, it had heart, and it had a really wonderful message. Even days later, we’re all still talking about takeaways from the movie and parts that we really enjoyed as a family, and the conversations are only getting better as we process the movie and discuss it further. Zootopia screening 2

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Game day party recipe: RITZ® Crackers sliders with Coca-Cola pulled pork and coleslaw

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BowlTimeSnacks #CollectiveBias Game Day Fuel 3Around here, football isn’t just a sport. From late summer until the last game is played, Seattle becomes a different place as we all unite for our team. Anyone wearing team colors is greeted with a cheer and usually a discussion on how the season is going. This is especially true for game day when we all come together to celebrate, so it’s best to plan for a crowd if you are home watching the game.

This past weekend was my turn hosting and I knew I wanted to do something a little different. I was looking for something you could eat throughout the day instead of a formal meal, and ideally it would be as hands-off as possible so I could get a chance to watch the game, too.

I headed to the store to see what inspiration struck and within minutes I hit on the perfect game time menu: RITZ® Crackers sliders with Coca-Cola pulled pork and homemade coleslaw. It looks delicious, right? Ritz pulled pork sliders

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All the reasons why I love Smith Brothers Farms and why you will, too {$10 off for new customers}

Sponsored postDo you live in the Puget Sound area? If so, you’re probably very familiar with the Smith Brothers Farms insulated milk boxes that sit on many of your neighbors’ front porches.  Smith Brothers Farms delivery in box openHaving been a customer of Smith Brothers Farms for almost 5 years, we’ve been asked about the service more times than I can count, and I always say the same thing: going with Smith Brothers Farms was the best thing ever for my family. Smith Brothers Farms deliveryWhy do I love Smith Brothers Farms so much? Here are just a few of the reasons why I will never go back to store-bought milk:

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Fall Glamping fun with the family

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #FallGlamping #Glamping #CollectiveBias Glamping with FreschettaMy husband and my kids love everything about camping and would do it every weekend if they could. I, on the other hand, love almost everything about not camping. Luxuries like beds, refrigeration, and running water are pretty high up on my lists of must-haves for weekend fun and I prefer to give them up only in moderation.

This is how we became glampers, or people that camp glamorously by pairing camping and luxury. The family loves being one with nature, and I love them, so glamping together suits us all.
My camping journey started with the purchase of a Weekender camper van that appealed to my bed and icebox-loving self. But while it’s great because it gets us out camping as a family, it isn’t exactly glamorous. Yet. 

We’re still working on getting my must-have list fully met by making additions to our van that add luxury without taking up precious space. So, for now we found camping buddies in my in-laws who supply the running water and a large refrigerator and who just so happen to not mind our littlest campers taking over their living space.Glamping Family

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Rain or shine Trick-or-Treat fun at Northgate Mall in Seattle

Sponsored postDid you get as depressed as I did when you realized that Seattle was going to be hit by stormy weather just in time for Halloween? While many holiday celebrations take place indoors, Halloween is one of the few nights that can be quickly ruined by inclement weather. I don't know about you, but I don't want to take three kids out in the cold and the rain to get candy. This little garden gnome was hoping for sunshine on her first Halloween, but it was not to be. Halloweeen gnome babyThank goodness Northgate Mall is here to save the day with their Boo Bash today from 3-5 pm. Instead of clomping around the neighborhood wearing parkas instead of costumes, we’re excited to spend Halloween afternoon in the warm comfort of the mall while we celebrate and shop.   Northgate Mall trick or treating

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Seattle: Have dinner with Chef Tom Douglas on November 5th

Sponsored postSomeone once heard I was from Seattle and exclaimed, "Seattle, WA the land of Tom Douglas? You're so lucky!" This makes me so happy for a variety of reasons.

First, I love that Seattle is becoming well known for having great food. Tom Douglas is often described as the chef who put Seattle on the culinary map, and his numerous restaurants around the Seattle area are some of my favorites. Second, as anyone who has ever met Tom or heard him on the local radio shows will tell you, he's a great guy. Tom Douglas picture

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Connected cars of the future with AT&T – and a Wi-Fi device for the rest of us

Sponsored postBy Tyler, editor and reviewer

I’m going to date myself here, but I remember when the coolest new thing in car technology was automatic windows. Now cars are just a series of connected computers that have built in screens and navigation, satellite radios, safety features to protect you from dangers you can’t even see, and cameras everywhere. It makes logical sense that the next step would be making these integrated computers connected so you could have Wi-Fi on the road, and that’s definitely the way things are headed.

Last week we checked out the latest and greatest in car tech as AT&T’s guest to the Seattle Auto show and what stands out the most is the connected car of the future. We got to take a spin in the 2016 Volvo XC90 and got to experience the awesomeness of a connected car firsthand. I’ve always been a Volvo fan, and this new model definitely did not disappoint. IMG_2694With a modern stylish exterior, gorgeous interior, comfortable seats and excellent visibilty, I was immediately impressed. Then after driving it and being surprised with the power delivery from the 2.0 liter 4 cylinder that runs on regular unleaded, and seeing how well all the connected features work, I decided I absolutely need to see about getting some extra time behind the wheel. IMG_2692

 

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Seattle: Teatro ZinZanni’s new family show Lighter Than Air rocks

Sponsored postHave you passed by the Teatro ZinZanni historical spiegeltent on Mercer Street in Seattle and wondered what on earth went on beyond those brightly colored walls? 6a0105362badb1970b0191032af460970c-800wiNow is the perfect chance to check it out with the whole family with Teatro ZinZanni’s new family show, Lighter Than AirFeaturing Seattle’s own kiddie rock band, Recess Monkey, this new show has something for everyone. Teatro ZinZanni wallAs soon as you enter the lobby, you know you are in for a treat. The lush lobby of Teatro ZinZanni is full of color and excitement, just begging kids to dress up, relax, play pretend, and even grab a snack from the old fashioned snack bar before the show. Teatro ZinZanni face paintsAnd, then you step inside the gorgeous theater – a lofted tent filled with booths, chairs, and for this show, a “mosh pit” where kids can enjoy the show while they dance.

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